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July 30, 2011

G105: Red Sox 10, White Sox 2

Jon Lester allowed only five base runners in eight innings (8-4-2-1-8, 98) and the Red Sox batted around in both the fifth and ninth innings.

Phil Humber retired the first eight Boston batters (and 12 of 14), but he encountered some rough water in the fifth. Crawford singled, stole second, went to third when A.J. Pierzynski's throw bounced into center field, and scored on Saltalamacchia's double. Reddick singled and Scutaro's sac fly made it 2-0. Ellsbury singled and promptly stole second. Pedroia's sac fly to right brought in Reddick and after Gonzalez was intentionally walked, Youkilis singled home Ellsbury.

With two outs in the eighth, Reddick walked and Scutaro singled to right-center. When CF Alex Rios took his time getting the ball back to the infield, Reddick tore around third and scored. Rios -- who had been pulled in mid-game about a month ago for lack of hustle -- was loudly booed, both after the play and again when he led off the bottom of the eighth.

Six Boston players had at least 2 hits, with Gonzalez reaching base four times. ... Scutaro drove in three runs. ... The 6-9 spots in the order reached base 10 times in 20 plate appearances, stole two bases, scored six runs, and had five RBI.

The Yankees swept a day-night doubleheader from the Orioles: 8-3 and 17-3. In the nightcap, New York scored 12 runs in the first inning, batting for 40 minutes and seeing 70 pitches! They are 2 GB the Red Sox in the East.

The old farts will remember when box scores had only 4 columns: AB-R-H-RBI.

I was just reading something about games in which a lineup has no zeroes in that kind of box. Everyone has at least one at-bat, one hit, one run, and one RBI. After 2 innings, the only 0 remaining in the NYY box is Granderson's RBI total!